Propellant charge for the firing of projectiles, bolts, and the like, from a firing device, and apparatus for the introduction of this propellant charge

ABSTRACT

A propellant charge in the form of a powder strip having holes or apertures therein for indicating the length thereof to be used in a firing device having a cartridge chamber with guides on one wall to effect a coiling of the powder strip when inserted thereinto by way of an inlet slit from a magazine via a measuring device.

United ilatle Patent [191 l 3,75%,ll8

Ratz et al. Sept. 4, 1973 PRUPELLANT CHARGE FOR THE WIRING [51] int. Cl. Ftld 9/00 0F PROJECTKLES, BOLTS, AND THE LUKE, [58] Field at Search 102/38, 39, 40, 34; FROM A FlRlNG DEVHCE, AND AllPAlRATUS 60/35-6 R5; 89/33 M0 35 79 FOR THE HNTRODUCTHON OF THIS PROPELLANT CHARGE [56] References Cited [75] Inventors: Heinz Ratz, Troisdorf; Heinz UNITED STATES PATENTS Gawlick Furth; Gumbel, Mamndefl, 2,043,256 6/1936 McLeod, Jr. 102 39 Erlangen; Hellman Bendler, 3,210,930 l0/l965 Leepcr et al 102/34 X E l d l f r angen Spar a l 0 Germany Primary ExaminerRobert F. Stahl [73] Assignee: Dynamit Nobel Alitiengesellschalt, Attorney-Craig, Antonelli and Hill Postfach, Troisdorf, Germany 221 Filed: Apr. 24, 1970 [57] ABSTRACT A propellant charge in the form of a powder strip hav- [21] Appl. No.. 31,498 ing holes or apertures therein for indicating the length thereof to be used in a firing device having a cartridge [30] Foreign A li ti p -m Dam chamber with guides on one wall to effect a coiling of Apr. 24, 1969 Germany P 19 20 816.3 Powder Strip when.inser.ted therein? by "9 of an inlet slit from a magazine via a measuring device. [52] US. Cl 89/33 R, 102/865, 102/99 16 Claims, 8 Drawing Figures Patented Sept. 4,1973 3,756,118

-" INVENTORS HEINZ RATZ HEINZ GAWLICK GUNTHER MARONDEL HELLMUT BENDLER A1 IORNP YS PROPELLANT CHARGE FOR THE FIRING 6F PROJECTILES, BOLTS, AND THE LIKE, FROM A FIRING DEVICE, AND AWARATUS FOR THE INTRODUCTION OF THIS PROPELLANT CHARGE This invention relates to a propellant charge for the firing of projectiles, bolts, nails, and the like, from the barrel of a firearm or a firing device, which charge can be fed to the object to be fired in the firearm or the like and is combustible without leaving any residue.

Propellant which can be fired without a casing has been known in a variety of shapes. Thus, consumable propellants provided as individual pieces of various shape are known, especially those in pellet form. Furthermore, cases similar in configuration to a metal case, have been manufactured directly from the propellant of the above-mentioned type. In this connection, the propellant pieces are individually introduced from a storage container into the combustion chamber of the firing device or the like, it being necessary to arrange the individual propellant pieces in series, at least shortly prior to being fed into the firing device.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a propellant charge which is easily dispensed and capable of accurate measurement.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a firing device adapted for use of a propellant charge in the form of a powder strip.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a dispensing apparatus for a propellant charge in the form of a powder strip so as to provide accurate measurement of the propellant used.

it is a further object of this invention to fashion the consumable propellant so that the handling and the manner of feeding of this propellant to the firing device can be effected more simply and more effectively.

The invention is distinguished in that the propellant charge is shaped, as a propellant powder, in the form of a web or band, for example a strip or foil with a cross section which remains uniform over its length. Such a propellant strip or foil can be readily handled and accommodated in a narrow space for storage and magazining. The manufacture is also thereby facilitated.

Due to the fact that the strip or foil provides an increased weight of material uniformly with its length, an accurate metering of the charge is possible by measuring the length. This fact, on the one hand, makes it possible to employ a simple feeding device and, on the other hand, merely differing lengths of the strip or foil need be supplied for charges of different strength.

The propellant strip or foil can exhibit, with equal thickness, varying widths, depending on the desired amount of charge. For smaller charges, for example for bolt driving tools, a foil width of about 8 10 mm. should be sufficient. For rifle ammunition or the like, a foil having a width of about 30 mm. will be suitable. The strip or foil of the consumable propellant is to exhibit a rigidity sufficient for feeding this strip into the firearm and the like, and a winding ability, so that the feeding to the combustion chamber of the firing device or the like can be effected without a complicated mechanism.

Preferred types of propellant are those consisting of 5 50 percent nitroglycerin, up to about 5 percent customary and conventional stabilizers, as well as nitrocellulose as the remainder; for example, 40 percent nitroglycerin, 2 percent stabilizers, and 58 percent nitrocellulose is typical.

The invention furthermore relates to a device, adapted to the strip-shaped, particularly foil-shaped propellant powder, for feeding this propellant charge into the cartridge chamber of the barrel of the firearm or of the firing device; in this connection, the magazine can be attached to the firearm or the like. The device according to the invention is distinguished in that the cartridge chamber exhibits an insert or feed slot adapted to the cross section of the powder strip or foil, through which slot the powder strip or foil can be inserted, by means of a feeding device, into the cartridge chamber, which latter is fashioned as the combustion chamber. Such an insert slot can be made adjustable with respect to its height and width, so that, in one and the same firearm, varying charges in the form of the powder strip or the like can be employed.

Advantageously, the powder strip or foil is provided with a perforation extending over the length thereof and repeating itself regularly, which perforation can consist, for example, of holes or the like in one row or in several rows. This makes it possible to effect an accurate feeding of the strip or foil, and the metering of the propellant charge can also be made more precise. in this connection, a longitudinal measuring device for the strip or foil can be attached in front of the insert slot present at the firearm; a predetermined number of holes or the like in the strip or foil can constitute the measure for the amount of powder to be employed. However, it is also possible to provide a feeding unit wherein, by means of an adjustable stop device, predeterminable and definite lengths of the strip or foil can be set. In front of the insert slot, a severing device for the strip or foil is suitably provided in the form of a cutting blade, for example. By the cutting blade or the like, the insert slot can be simultaneously closed off on the outside, which can also be effected by the arrangement of jaws or the like.

The powder strip or foil is advantageously coiled up within the magazine and stored therein. In order to be able to accommodate in the combustion chamber of the firing device or the like a relatively large length of the powder strip or foil, the combustion chamber is advantageously provided with guides making it possible to wind the strip into a spiral or the like during the feeding process. Such a guide can be, for example, a central axle or shaft about which the foil is guided. It is also possible to provide sprially extending grooves on the front face of the combustion chamber. Furthermore, it is possible to effect the spiral coiling of the powder foil in the combustion chamber by means of spacer pins disposed therein. Thereby, the effect is obtained that the individual layers are not disposed in close contact with each other in the combustion chamber, but rather exhibit a small interstice therebetween, which improves the ignition and the combustion of the powder charge.

The ignition is suitably effected by a flame which can stem from a burning gas, which latter is produced, for example, by the igniting of a readily flammable fluid or a vapor, for instance benzine or gasoline, alcohol, or the like. In this connection, the axle or the bolts in the combustion chamber can be utilized as means for supplying the ignition flame, whereby an ignition of the powder strip or foil over the entire length of the combustion chamber is ensured.

These and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description thereof when taken with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGS. 1 and 2 show an embodiment of the propellant charge in the form of a foil according to the invention, in top view and in cross section, a predetermined perforation being provided;

FIGS. 3 and 4 illustrate further embodiments for a different type of perforation in the powder foil according to the invention;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view, partially cut away, of a magazine carrying the powder foil according to the invention;

FIGS. 6 and 7 illustrate in a plan view and in a top view, and partially in section, a device for feeding the powder foil of this invention to a firing device, and for loading the foil in the combustion chamber of the firing device;

FIG. 8 shows schematically an additional embodiment for placing the foil in spiral shape within the combustion chamber.

The propellant charge 1 of a propellant which burns without leaving any residue exhibits preferably the shape of a band or foil having a uniform cross section over its length, so that an accurate metering of the charge is possible by measuring its length. Such a longitudinal measuring is suitably effected by means of indicia, such as perforations. In the band 1, a series of perforations 2 are provided on one side. In this connection, the longitudinal measurement can be carried out advantageously by counting the perforations, i.e., the holes 2. In the example of FIGS. 3 and 4, the perforation provided in the band 1 is different in each instance. FIG. 3 shows a band with the rows of holes 3 and 4 close to the respective longitudinal edges of the band, whereas in the band of FIG. 4, a row of perforations 5 is provided which is disposed in the center of the band, the holes constituting slots extending in the transverse direction.

For the purpose of storing or magazining the powder strip or band, a simple cartridge or cassette 6, as seen in FIG. 5, is sufficient, wherein the band 1 is extended through a slot 7 to the outside; this slot 7 corresponds to the cross section of the strip or band. Thereby, the flame of the burning band outside of the cassette cannot flash into the latter. The feed to the firing device can be effected by rotating the central axle of the eassette, a corresponding advancement of the band being made possible by the rigidity of this band. However, it is also possible to provide the powder strip from the cassette in each case in the predetermined length.

Looking to FIGS. 6 and 7, the firing device 8 has a barrel 9, to which are fed separately projectiles 10 of the conventional type, or bolts to be fired, or the like. At the rear end of the barrel 9, a combustion chamber 11 is arranged, into which the strip 1 is to be fed. For this purpose, the strip is introduced into the combustion chamber 11 through a slot 12; in this connection, the cross section of this slot is to be adapted to the cross section of the strip 1 as accurately as possible. The cross section of the slot can be made adjustable. Between the outlet slot 7 and the entrance slot 12, a counter 13 can be provided which is associated with the holes of the perforation. The strip 1 slides through this counting device, which may be any conventional counter arrangement, such as an optical counter or the like, so that it can be seen from the latter what amount, in weight, or what length of foil, has been fed into the combustion chamber Ill. The length can be derived from counting the perforation holes or the like, such as by means of a mechanical counter or the like. It is furthermore advantageous to mount a locking or stop latch at the firearm, which permits the feeding of only a respectively preselected, but then fixedly determined, amount. The advancement of the selectively rigid powder strip 1 can be carried out by means of the rotatably mounted axle 14; the rotation can be conducted manually by means of a button 15 or the like disposed on the outside.

It is suitable for the strip 1 to again assume a spiral shape in the combustion chamber 11. For this purpose, the strip 1 can be wound up on an axle 16 in the combustion chamber 11. Such a reeling-up procedure can advantageously be conducted by providing grooves 17 on the rear end wall of the combustion chamber 11, which grooves extend spirally and keep the individual laps of the wound-up strip at a spacing from each other. In place of the spiral groove 17, it is also possible to provide bolts 18 at varying spacings from the central axis in the combustion chamber 11, which bolts effect a forcible spiral winding of the rigid strip 1 which is inserted into the combustion chamber 11.

The strip 1 can simultaneously serve as a cover for the feed slot 12 in the firing device 9; in this connection, the strip is retained or clamped in the slot at the beginning of the firing, so that it cannot be flung out by the gas pressure produced in the combustion chamber. The slot 12 is so narrow, with respect to the cross section of the strip, that the combustion cannot be propagated from the combustion chamber to the outside, due to a large dissipation of heat in the chamber. It is also possible to cut the strip, after introduction into the combustion chamber, and prior to the initiation of the ignition process, by means of a movable blade 19. Thereby, the strip is severed at this point, and the advanced blade simultaneously closes off the combustion chamber. If it is desired to employ the strip which passes through the slot 12 directly as the closing means, it is possible to additionally provide metallic jaws or the like, in place of the blade, by means of which jaws the strip is held outside of the slot, and which extinguish the burning strip outside of the firearm.

The ignition of the strip in the combustion chamber can be effected in various ways, for example by electrical sparks, or by burning solvent vapors which are ignited either according to the diesel principle or by a spark. It is also possible to employ a conventional igniting means, for example a primer cap, which is introduced separately into the firearm. In case of ignition by a flame, the fixed axle 16 is advantageously employed for feeding the primer. For this purpose, the axle 16 can exhibit flash vents (not shown) at its periphery, from which the ignition jet of a priming substance can emanate in order to ignite the strip. In the same manner, the spacer bolts 18 can also be fashioned as hollow tubes with flash vents for supplying the priming substance.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to but a single embodiment, it is to be understood that the scope of the invention is not limited to the specific details thereof, but is susceptible of numerous changes and modifications as would be apparent to one with normal skill in the pertinent technology.

What we claim is:

1. An explosive firing device comprising an elongated barrel, a combustion chamber within said barrel proximate to an end thereof, said barrel having a single aperture providing a path of communication between the barrel exterior and said combustion chamber for accepting a completely combustible powder strip, said barrel aperture having a configuration and size corresponding to the completely combustible powder strip so that the strip may be inserted into said combustion chamber through said barrel aperture and be burned within the combustion chamber without leaving any residue therein.

2. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including means for adjusting the size of said barrel aperture with respect to its length and width.

3. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including severing and covering means mounted at said barrel aperture for severing said powder strip and covering said barrel aperture thereafter.

4. A firing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said barrel includes a closed end wall forming a wall of said combustion chamber transverse to said aperture and winding means disposed on the inner surface of said end wall.

5. A firing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said winding means is provided as a guide slot of spiral configuration.

6. A firing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said winding means is provided as a plurality of rods protruding from said end wall inside said combustion chamber.

7. A firing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said severing and covering means is provided as a blade mounted for pivotal movement between a position adjacent said barrel aperture and a position covering said barrel aperture.

8. A firing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said severing and covering means is provided as a pair of jaws disposed in surrounding relationship to said barrel apcrtu re so as to simultaneously sever said powder strip and cover said barrel aperture when closed.

9. A firing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel includes a closed end wall forming a wall of said combustion chamber transverse to said barrel aperture and winding means disposed on the inner surface of said end wall for winding said powder strip within said combustion chamber after said strip is inserted through said barrel aperture.

10. A firing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said winding means is provided as a guide slot of spiral configuration.

ll. A firing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said winding means is provided as a plurality of rods protruding from said end wall inside said combustion chamber.

12. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including ignition means for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.

13. A firing device as defined in claim 12, wherein said ignition means includes a guide axle positioned on the axis of said combustion chamber, said guide axle having at least one passage therein for introducing an ignition flame into said chamber.

14. A firing device as defined in claim 11, including ignition means for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.

15. A firing device as defined in claim 14, wherein said ignition means includes at least one channel in at least one of said protruding rods for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.

16. A firing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration of said barrel aperture prevents propagation of the combustion of the powder strip within said chamber to the outside, the powder strip having a uniform cross section over the length thereof. 

1. An explosive firing device comprising an elongated barrel, a combustion chamber within said barrel proximate to an end thereof, said barrel having a single aperture providing a path of communication between the barrel exterior and said combustion chamber for accepting a completely combustible powder strip, said barrel aperture having a configuration and size corresponding to the completely combustible powder strip so that the strip may be inserted into said combustion chamber through said barrel aperture and be burned within the combustion chamber without leaving any residue therein.
 2. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including means for adjusting the size of said barrel aperture with respect to its length and width.
 3. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including severing and covering means mounted at said barrel aperture for severing said powder strip and covering said barrel aperture thereafter.
 4. A firing device as defined in claim 3, wherein said barrel includes a closed end wall forming a wall of said combustion chamber transverse to sAid aperture and winding means disposed on the inner surface of said end wall.
 5. A firing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said winding means is provided as a guide slot of spiral configuration.
 6. A firing device as defined in claim 4, wherein said winding means is provided as a plurality of rods protruding from said end wall inside said combustion chamber.
 7. A firing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said severing and covering means is provided as a blade mounted for pivotal movement between a position adjacent said barrel aperture and a position covering said barrel aperture.
 8. A firing device as defined in claim 6, wherein said severing and covering means is provided as a pair of jaws disposed in surrounding relationship to said barrel aperture so as to simultaneously sever said powder strip and cover said barrel aperture when closed.
 9. A firing device as defined in claim 1, wherein said barrel includes a closed end wall forming a wall of said combustion chamber transverse to said barrel aperture and winding means disposed on the inner surface of said end wall for winding said powder strip within said combustion chamber after said strip is inserted through said barrel aperture.
 10. A firing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said winding means is provided as a guide slot of spiral configuration.
 11. A firing device as defined in claim 9, wherein said winding means is provided as a plurality of rods protruding from said end wall inside said combustion chamber.
 12. A firing device as defined in claim 1, including ignition means for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.
 13. A firing device as defined in claim 12, wherein said ignition means includes a guide axle positioned on the axis of said combustion chamber, said guide axle having at least one passage therein for introducing an ignition flame into said chamber.
 14. A firing device as defined in claim 11, including ignition means for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.
 15. A firing device as defined in claim 14, wherein said ignition means includes at least one channel in at least one of said protruding rods for introducing an ignition flame into said combustion chamber.
 16. A firing device as defined in claim 1, wherein the configuration of said barrel aperture prevents propagation of the combustion of the powder strip within said chamber to the outside, the powder strip having a uniform cross section over the length thereof. 